Signed to DreamWorks Records Nashville in 1998, Keith released his breakthrough single "How Do You Like Me Now?!" in late 1999. This song, the title track to his 1999 album of the same name, was the #1 country song of 2000, and one of several chart-toppers during his tenure on DreamWorks Nashville. His next three albums, Pull My Chain, Unleashed, and Shock'n Y'all, produced three more #1's each, and all of the albums were certified 4× Platinum. A second Greatest Hits package followed in 2004, and after that, he released Honkytonk University.
When DreamWorks closed in 2005, Keith founded the label Show Dog Nashville, which merged with Universal South Records to become Show Dog-Universal Music in December 2009. He has released ten studio albums through Show Dog/Show Dog-Universal: 2006's White Trash with Money, 2007's Big Dog Daddy, 2008's That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy, 2009's American Ride, 2010's Bullets in the Gun, 2011's Clancy's Tavern, 2012's Hope on the Rocks, 2013's Drinks After Work, 2015's 35 MPH Town, 2017's The Bus Songs, and 2021's Peso in My Pocket, as well as the compilation 35 Biggest Hits in 2008. Keith also made his acting debut in 2006, starring in the film Broken Bridges, and co-starred with comedian Rodney Carrington in the 2008 film Beer for My Horses, inspired by his song of the same name. On February 5th, 2024, Toby passed away from a 3 year battle with Stomach Cancer.
Please Come Home For Christmas
Toby Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh what a Christmas to have the blues
My baby's gone I have no friends
To wish me greetings once again
Crowds will be singing "Silent Night"
Christmas carols by candlelight
Please come home for Christmas
If not for Christmas, by New Year's night
Friends and relations send salutations
Sure as the stars shine above
For this is Christmas, yes, Christmas my dear
It's the time of year to be with the one you love
So won't you tell me you'll never more roam
Christmas and New Year's will find you home
There'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
And I'll be happy, I'll be happy, once again
There'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
And I'll be happy, happy Christmas, once again
In Toby Keith's song "Please Come Home For Christmas," the lyrics describe the feeling of loneliness and sadness during the holiday season due to the absence of a loved one. The opening lines, “Bells will be ringing the sad, sad news, Oh what a Christmas to have the blues,” set the tone for the longing and sadness that the singer is experiencing. The lyrics go on to describe how the singer has no friends or family to celebrate the holiday with and how they miss their significant other. The chorus, “Please come home for Christmas, if not for Christmas, by New Year's night,” emphasizes the hopefulness that the singer has that their loved one will return home for the holiday season.
The song also touches on the traditional aspects of Christmas, with crowds singing “Silent Night” and carols by candlelight. However, the singer cannot fully enjoy the holiday without their loved one by their side, as shown in the line “It's the time of year to be with the one you love." The song ends on a hopeful note, with the promise of happiness and the absence of sorrow, grief, and pain once the loved one returns home.
Overall, "Please Come Home For Christmas" is a poignant song about longing for the presence of a loved one during the holiday season. It captures the bittersweet emotions that many people feel during this time of year.
Line by Line Meaning
Bells will be ringing the sad, sad news
The sound of bells will spread the sad news of my baby leaving, making it a melancholic Christmas.
Oh what a Christmas to have the blues
What a sorrowful Christmas it is without my loved one by my side, leaving me sad and lonely.
My baby's gone I have no friends
My significant other has left, and I have no close friend by my side to share the festive spirit with me.
To wish me greetings once again
I miss having someone to greet me on this special day, someone who would make me feel loved and cared for.
Crowds will be singing 'Silent Night'
People around me will be joyfully singing carols, but I can't help but feel lonely and sad.
Christmas carols by candlelight
The beautiful night will be lit up by the warm light of candles, as the festive songs fill the air.
Please come home for Christmas
I am pleading for my loved one to come back home for Christmas and make this day special again.
If not for Christmas, by New Year's night
If not for Christmas, then let us be together by New Year's night and welcome the coming year as a couple.
Friends and relations send salutations
People I know are sending messages of love and warmth to me on this beautiful day.
Sure as the stars shine above
Just like the stars above, my love and affection for my partner are eternal, and I hope they feel the same way too.
For this is Christmas, yes, Christmas my dear
This is the day of togetherness and celebration that we eagerly wait for throughout the year, my dear.
It's the time of year to be with the one you love
The Christmas season is the perfect time to cherish the love and companionship of those close to you.
So won't you tell me you'll never more roam
I am begging my loved one to promise me that they will never leave me again and wander off somewhere else.
Christmas and New Year's will find you home
I hope that during Christmas and New Year's, you will be back home with me and spend the festive season together.
There'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
Once reunited, there will be no more sadness, grief or pain. We will be with each other and celebrate the happy moments.
And I'll be happy, I'll be happy, once again
If you come back to me, I will be happy again and enjoy the festive season with renewed joy and enthusiasm.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Mose Brown, Gene Redd
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind